Brooder



1 M. WILLIAMS 1,830,154

BROODER Filed April 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l In venior A ttorney Nov. 3, 1931. M. L. WILLIAMS 5 BROODER Filed April 29. 1929 '2 Shams-sheet 2 I I 1 L In venior JM'arrzlrZ.7YZ/ZZ'Q2738 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 MORRIS L. WILLIAMS, OF MONTEREY PARK, CALIFORNIA IBROODER Application filed April 29,

The present invention relates to a brooder and has for its primary object to provide a structure of this nature wherein a clrcular, square or rectangular heated compartment is separated from the chicks by means of a flexible membrane such as a cotton blanket or a blanket of other material, thereby permitting heat of a high temperature to be applied to the back of the chicks and still permitting the chicks to breathe fresh, cool air.

A still further very important object of this invention resides in the provision of a structure of this nature which is exceedingly simple in its construction, strong and durable, inexpensive to manufacture, efficient and reliable in use, and otherwise well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With the above and numerous other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the brooder embodying the features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical section therethrough.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the heat insulating lining, and

Figure 4 is a perspective View of one of the membranes retaining split rings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the numeral 5 denotes an annular, inverted, trough-like casing with a lining 6 of heat insulating material therein. The inner wall of the inverted trough-like casing 5 and the lining 6 are provided with openings 7 to receive electrical heating units such as incandescent bulbs 8.

The lower edges of the outer and inner walls of the casing 5 are provided with flanges 8 and 9 respectively so that a membrane 10 may cover the lower portion of the trough like casing therefor the following 1929, Serial No. 359,064.

with the edges of the membrane disposed over the flanges, to be held in place by split, resilient rings 11 and 12. This membrane 10 is preferably a cotton blanket, although any other suitablematerial may be used. Legs 14 are fixed to the outer wallrof the casing 5 to depend down wardly therefrom and hold the apparatus a slight distance above the ground so that the chicks may ,readily move thereunder and 5 rest their backs up against the membrane 10 so that their backs will be kept very warm in comparison to their breasts, and permit the chicks to cuddle up as they would cuddle to the hen, while still permitting the chicks to 0 breathe cool, freshair. r

In so forming my brooder in the form of a'circular, square or rectangular trough-like casing, I thereforeprovide a heating compartment formed by the walls of the trough, and a resultant centrally disposed opening which extends entirely through the center of the casing. Thus the brooder is entirely open throu hthe'center, and it is apparent that'crow'dmg of the'chicks toward the center of' the brooder will bring .them below this center opening and free ofthe protection of the blanket, thus exposing the chicks to the atmosphere. In many brooders in usetoday the central portion of the brooder is closed, 7 and consequently the chicks will crowd toward the center depriving the chicks nearest to the center of sufficient air for breathing purposes. "In a brooder of the type herein disclosed the chicks will be deterred from 30 crowding toward the center, since as before statedin so doing, they would be forced to leave the protection ofthe blanket andlexpose themselves to the atmosphere. 7 Also, in so forming my brooder, no obstructions whatever are presented to the chicks, as there are no corners or crannies wherein the chicks would ordinarily huddle, resulting in injury and smothering. Then too, the central-opening formed by the inner wallof the trough permits the entrance into the brooder of a suflicient amount of cool, fresh air, thus keeping the chicks warm without depriving them of certain amount of fresh air for breathing purposes.

It is thought that the construction, operation, utility and advantages of the invention will now be quite apparent to those skilled in this art without a more detailed description thereof.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail merely for the purposes of exei'nplification, since in actual practice it attains the features and advantages enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and in the above description.

It will be apparent that changes in the details of construction, and in the combination and arrangement of parts, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A brooder of the class described comprising an inverted trough having spaced walls providing an inner and an outer wall, an insulated lining on the walls of the trough, said inner wall providing an opening extending through the trough, said inner wall forming a support for a heating element, the heating element arranged on said inner wall for disposition within said trough, a membrane formed of flexible material, said membrane being substantially of annular formation and having the inner and outer edges thereof secured to said inner and outer walls respectively whereby said membrane is suspended from the lower end portions of said inner and outer walls between said wall.

2. A brooder of the class described comprising an inverted trough having spaced walls providing an inner and an outer wall, an insulated lining on the walls of the trough, said inner wall providing an opening extending through the trough, said inner wall forming a support for a heating element, the heating element arranged on said inner wall for disposition within said trough, a membrane formed of flexible material, said membrane being substantially of annular formation and having the inner and outer edges thereof secured to said inner and outer walls respectively whereby said membrane is suspended from the lower end portions of said inner and outer walls between said wall, and supporting legs secured to said outer wall for supporting said trough above a suitable surface.

3. A brooder comprising in combination an annular casing closed at its top and opened at its bottom, said casing including inner and outer peripheral walls, said inner wall provided with a series of circumfereir tially spaced openings, a heating unit arranged in each of said openings and extending inwardly from said wall between said peripheral walls, an annular membrane, and means for securing the inner and outer edges of said membrane to said inner and outer walls respectively, whereby the intermediate portion of said membrane between said edges may depend downwardly from said casing for contact with the backs of chicks or the like.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MORRIS L. VILLIAMS. 

